Benea Reach
Encyclopedia
Benea Reach is an extreme
metalcore
/mathcore
band from Oslo, Norway. The band was nominated for a Spellemannsprisen Award in the metal category, and at one time included noted guitarist Christer Espevoll of progressive metal
band Extol
.
notoriety along with former band mate and vocalist Ilkka Volume. They were joined by Morten (bass guitar), Tor (guitar), Erik (guitar), and Anders (Digital Audio
). This original incarnation of the band only lasted for a year and disbanded. During this time a live demo EP had been recorded. In 2004 the pair gathered four new members, most notably Christer Espevoll, formerly of Extol
. The band recorded a demo of the song "Pandemonium", which was distributed among different record labels. After receiving good responses the band signed a deal with Tabu Recordings
and released their first full length Monument Bineothan
which got the band nominated in the 35th Annual Spellemannsprisen for the metal category against Enslaved
, Gorgoroth
, and Keep of Kalessin
. In August 2007 the band announced on their website that they would soon be recording their follow-up to "Monument" with acclaimed Danish producer Tue Madsen
.
On December 26, 2007 via the band's official Myspace, Benea Reach announced their forthcoming album Alleviat
, which was released in Scandinavia February, 2008.
On January 22, Benea Reach officially confirmed the departure of Christer Espevoll and Håkon Nakken from the band and announced the addition of Mikael Wildén on bass guitar.
On April 1, 2008 Alwin Nedrum made his first appearance onstage with Benea Reach, he was later on announced as a permanent member of the group.
On May 14, 2009 the band confirmed via their official Myspace the departure of guitarist Håkon Sagen, earlier that year.
On October, 2009 the band toured India, with concerts at The Great Indian Rock Festival in Pune, Delhi and Bangalore from 23–26 October and at Thomso '09 Cultural Festival of IIT Roorkee, one of India’s greatest student festivals, on 31 October.
, Neurosis
, and Botch
as primary influences for their sound. More specifically the Meshuggah ep None
. Other influences include The Dillinger Escape Plan
, My Bloody Valentine, Cult of Luna
, Tool
, and Mastodon
.
Extreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...
metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
/mathcore
Mathcore
Mathcore is a rhythmically complex and dissonant fusion style of hardcore punk and Metal. It has its roots in bands such as Converge, Botch, and The Dillinger Escape Plan. The term mathcore is suggested by analogy with math rock. Both math rock and mathcore make use of unusual time signatures...
band from Oslo, Norway. The band was nominated for a Spellemannsprisen Award in the metal category, and at one time included noted guitarist Christer Espevoll of progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
band Extol
Extol
Extol is a Christian progressive extreme metal band from Bekkestua, Norway, that was formed in 1993. In 2007, they announced they were splitting up to work on separate projects. The band is known for playing a variety of different styles of metal which include progressive death metal, melodic death...
.
Biography
Benea Reach was formed on March 22, 2003 by drummer Marco Storm of SelfmindeadSelfmindead
-History:Selfmindead formed in the winter of 1994-1995 in Eskilstuna, Sweden as a four piece. Marko Hautakoski on drums, Timo Sillankorva on guitar, vocalist Ilkka Viitasalo and bassist Tapani Hoikkaniemi. Mostly influenced by the Swedish Hardcore scene, bands such as Refused, Abhinanda, and...
notoriety along with former band mate and vocalist Ilkka Volume. They were joined by Morten (bass guitar), Tor (guitar), Erik (guitar), and Anders (Digital Audio
Digital audio
Digital audio is sound reproduction using pulse-code modulation and digital signals. Digital audio systems include analog-to-digital conversion , digital-to-analog conversion , digital storage, processing and transmission components...
). This original incarnation of the band only lasted for a year and disbanded. During this time a live demo EP had been recorded. In 2004 the pair gathered four new members, most notably Christer Espevoll, formerly of Extol
Extol
Extol is a Christian progressive extreme metal band from Bekkestua, Norway, that was formed in 1993. In 2007, they announced they were splitting up to work on separate projects. The band is known for playing a variety of different styles of metal which include progressive death metal, melodic death...
. The band recorded a demo of the song "Pandemonium", which was distributed among different record labels. After receiving good responses the band signed a deal with Tabu Recordings
Tabu Recordings
Tabu Recordings is an independent Norwegian record label founded in 2003 in Oslo. It is owned by Tuba Records, a major Scandinavian independent music distributor...
and released their first full length Monument Bineothan
Monument Bineothan
Monument Bineothan is the first studio release by Oslo, Norway metalcore/mathcore band Benea Reach. It was released in Europe in July 2006 on Tabu Records. It was released in the U.S. on March 20, 2007 through Candlelight Records...
which got the band nominated in the 35th Annual Spellemannsprisen for the metal category against Enslaved
Enslaved (band)
Enslaved is a progressive black metal band formed in June 1991 in Sveio, Norway, and currently based out of Bergen, Norway.-History:Enslaved was formed in June 1991 by Ivar Bjørnson and Grutle Kjellson when they were 13 and 17 years old, respectively. The band name was inspired by an Immortal demo...
, Gorgoroth
Gorgoroth
Gorgoroth is a Norwegian black metal band based in Bergen. Formed in 1992 by Infernus , the band is named after the dead plateau of evil and darkness in the land of Mordor from J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings. The group is currently signed to Regain Records and have released...
, and Keep of Kalessin
Keep of Kalessin
Keep of Kalessin is an extreme metal band from Trondheim, Norway formed in 1993. The group's early lineup consisted of Ghash on vocals, Obsidian C. on guitars and keyboards, Warach on bass, and Vyl on drums. They released two albums under this lineup: Through Times of War in 1997, and Agnen: A...
. In August 2007 the band announced on their website that they would soon be recording their follow-up to "Monument" with acclaimed Danish producer Tue Madsen
Tue Madsen
Tue Madsen is a Danish music producer and sound engineer, who is well known in metal genre for his work with bands like The Haunted, Mnemic, Hatesphere, Ektomorf, Cataract, Exmortem, and Born from Pain. His first work as a producer was the album Embraced by the Absolute by Autumn Leaves in 1997...
.
On December 26, 2007 via the band's official Myspace, Benea Reach announced their forthcoming album Alleviat
Alleviat
Alleviat is the second full-length album by Norwegian mathcore/progressive metal band Benea Reach. The album was released in Scandinavia on February 4, 2008, and on January 6, 2009 in the United States....
, which was released in Scandinavia February, 2008.
On January 22, Benea Reach officially confirmed the departure of Christer Espevoll and Håkon Nakken from the band and announced the addition of Mikael Wildén on bass guitar.
On April 1, 2008 Alwin Nedrum made his first appearance onstage with Benea Reach, he was later on announced as a permanent member of the group.
On May 14, 2009 the band confirmed via their official Myspace the departure of guitarist Håkon Sagen, earlier that year.
On October, 2009 the band toured India, with concerts at The Great Indian Rock Festival in Pune, Delhi and Bangalore from 23–26 October and at Thomso '09 Cultural Festival of IIT Roorkee, one of India’s greatest student festivals, on 31 October.
Influences
Marco Storm, primary spokesperson for the band, has mentioned in multiple interviews bands such as MeshuggahMeshuggah
Meshuggah is an extreme metal band from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1987. Meshuggah's line-up has primarily consisted of founding members vocalist Jens Kidman and lead guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, drummer Tomas Haake, who joined in 1990, and rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström, who joined in 1992...
, Neurosis
Neurosis (band)
Neurosis is a post-metal band, based in Oakland, California. They formed in 1985 as a hardcore punk band, and their sound progressed towards a doom metal style that also included influences from dark ambient and industrial music as well as incorporating elements of folk music...
, and Botch
Botch (band)
Botch was a four-piece mathcore band from Tacoma, Washington, United States, that formed in 1993 and disbanded in 2002.-History:The band released two full-length albums and a handful of smaller releases including several singles and an EP. Its members went on an indefinite hiatus to form Roy,...
as primary influences for their sound. More specifically the Meshuggah ep None
None (EP)
-Credits:* Jens Kidman – vocals* Tomas Haake – drums* Peter Nordin – bass* Fredrik Thordendal – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, backing vocals* Mårten Hagström – rhythm guitar, backing vocals...
. Other influences include The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan is an American mathcore band from Morris Plains, New Jersey. The group originated in 1997 after the disbanding of Arcane, a hardcore punk trio consisting of Ben Weinman, Dimitri Minakakis, and Chris Pennie. The band's current line-up consists of guitarist Ben Weinman,...
, My Bloody Valentine, Cult of Luna
Cult of Luna
Cult of Luna is a Swedish post-metal band from Umeå. They formed from the remnants of a Umeå hardcore punk band called Eclipse in 1998. They slowly garnered critical appreciation and underground popularity with early releases Cult of Luna and The Beyond ; however, it is 2004's Salvation that can...
, Tool
Tool (band)
Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...
, and Mastodon
Mastodon (band)
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999. The band is composed of bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor...
.
Current band members
The current studio line up:- Ilkka Volume - Vocals.
- Marco Storm - Drums
- Martin Sivertsen (Heddal) - Guitar
- Andreas Berglihn - Guitar
- Mikael Wildén - Bass Guitar
- Espen - Live Sound
- Joffe - Live Lights
Past band members
- Håkon Sagen - Guitar
- Christer Espevoll - Guitar
- Håkon Nakken - Bass
- Morten - Bass
- Erik - Guitar
- Alwin Nedrum - Noise, Guitar and BGV
- Tor Magne Glidje - Guitar
- Anders - Digital Audio